Pages

Friday, May 1, 2015

While a trio of $10,000 Open
events and second-round splits of the Catherine Burton and Anthony Farina
late-closing series headline the on-track action this weekend at Vernon Downs,
all eyes will be pointed to Louisville, Kentucky for the 141st Kentucky Derby
at Churchill Downs this Saturday (May 2).

In Central New York, Vernon
Downs will carry on many of the same traditions linked with the Run for the
Roses, including mint juleps and a Derby hat contest. Fans may register for the
hat contest beginning at 3:00 p.m. with judging to take place at 4:30 p.m. The
first place prize is $500.

Vernon Downs opens early for
simulcasting on Saturday, accommodating Churchill's 10:30 a.m. first
post. Throughout the day, mint juleps will be available in addition to
the standard complement of legal beverages, and the wearers of the finest
Kentucky Derby hats will win betting vouchers.

The live 13-race card at Vernon
Downs will kick off at a special early post time of 5:10 p.m., with a break for
the Derby (post time 6:34) after the first few live races. Prior to the
Derby, one fan will be selected to win a $1,000 win bet on a horse of their
choosing in the Derby. Last year, one lucky fan took home $3,500 after
California Chrome proved triumphant.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Vernon, NY---Trotters and
distaffers headline Friday (April 17) evening's Opening Night program at Vernon
Downs, with 21-time winner A Penny Earned making his return to the Miracle Mile
in the featured $10,000 Open Trot.

The six-year-old Conway Hall
gelding proved victorious in 7 of 26 races last year, staying close to trainer
George Ducharme's central New York home base throughout. He took a seasonal
mark of 1:53.3 while earning just over $60,000, and he's reunited with his
regular driver from last season, defending Vernon Downs driving champion Chris
Lems.

Lems has nine drives
on the ten-race card, with three of them for last season's top trainer David
Dewhurst. The pair will look to establish themselves atop their respective
leader boards with Kyler's Valentine (race 1, 7-2 morning line), Ziegler
Hanover (race 2, 5-2 ML), and Pounce K (race 6, 6-1 ML).

Fans are encouraged
to arrive well before first post time of 6:45 p.m. EDT, as racing calendar magnets
and T-shirts will be distributed starting one hour before the first race (while
supplies last). Arriving fans can also meet their favorite drivers prior to the
races, and all are welcome to remain for the post-racing fireworks display.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Vernon,
NY ---
Vernon Downs opens the curtain on their 2015 live harness racing season later
this week, as Friday (April 17) marks the first of 90 programs over the
critically acclaimed seven-eighths-mile stonedust track.

"We're
excited to kick off another season of harness racing at the home of the Miracle
Mile," said Jason M. Settlemoir, Vice President of Racing at Vernon Downs.
"It's been a long winter, but we're ready for the upcoming meet, featuring
world-class stakes races, the New York Sire Stakes, and a slew of fun
promotions for our loyal fans."

Fans
will be welcomed back to the home of the Miracle Mile with race date magnets
and T-shirts given away at the main entrance beginning at 5:45 p.m. (while
supplies last). Fans will also be able to meet their favorite Vernon Downs
drivers before the races. During the races, six lucky fans will be selected to
win a $50 wager on the house, and after the last race, all are invited to enjoy
a spectacular fireworks display.

The
first Horseplay Car Giveaway finalist will be chosen on opening night as well
(weather permitting), as the popular season-long contest returns with a
Volkswagen Jetta on the line. Fans can earn entries every live race night
through Sept. 7, when one lucky winner will drive away with the new car.

Later
in the season, Vernon Downs will again host the trotting divisions of the
Empire Breeders Classic (June 21), along with a number of top trotting and
distaff events.

Stakes
action continues with the Zweig Memorial Trot (for 3-year-olds) slated for July
26, while the Aug. 21 card boasts a trio of top events -- the Crawford Farms
Trot, the Muscle
Hill Mares Trot, and the Artiscape
Open Mare Pace.

As
the weather cools down, Vernon Downs will once again host the New York Sire
Stakes Excelsior Series finals on Sept. 19, the Simpson Stakes for 2-year-olds
on Oct. 16, and the Kindergarten Classic trotting finals on Oct. 31.

As
last year’s major open stakes were won by Dan Patch champions Father Patrick,
Shake It Cerry, Sebastian K, and Rocklamation, the Miracle Mile is sure to once
again host a number of present and future world champions throughout the year.

Additionally,
Vernon Downs will play host to a full complement of New York Sire Stakes
preliminary events for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters.

Post
time for the opening night program is slated for 6:45 p.m. (EDT). Racing will
take place on Friday and Saturday evenings through closing night, Nov. 21, with
Sunday afternoon cards added from mid-May through the end of August and
Wednesday evening cards added in September and October. For a complete schedule,
visit www.vernondowns.com/racing.

Vernon,
N.Y. – April 7, 2015 – Vernon
Downs is preparing to usher in spring with the start of live harness racing scheduled
to begin in about two weeks. The 62nd season of live harness racing begins
April 17th with a post time of 6:45 pm. Guests will receive the
traditional race date T-shirt and schedule magnet (free while supplies last). A
spectacular fireworks show will commence after the last race, at approximately
10 pm.

Other highlights of opening night include
the chance to get to know Vernon Downs drivers through a special meet and greet
held in the hour before post. Guests can also sign up to win a $50 free roll,
and six winners receive $50 to wager entirely on a designated race and keep any
winnings.

“After a long, cold winter, we can’t
think of a better way to ring in spring than to join in the activities
surrounding the start to live racing,” said Scott Freeman, Sr. Vice President
& General Manager. “And that’s just the beginning—the fun and excitement
continues all season long with creative promotions, contests and events.”

The second big event of the 2015 season
is Kentucky Derby Day on May 2. Guests can spend the day at Vernon Downs and
celebrate southern style while watching and betting on the Derby. Those who
wish to dawn lavish hats can enter a special contest, and everyone who attends
can enter to win $1,000 Derby Dream Bet. Live harness racing follows that
evening.

Later in the season, the popular Camel
and Ostrich racing return on June 13, typically drawing one of the largest
crowds of the year! Two special promotions, the Horseplay Car Giveaway and
Million Dollar Ball Drop, continue all season long. Vernon Downs will also host
several top-class stakes races throughout the season, including the Crawford
Farms Trot, Zweig Memorial and the Artiscape Pace.

Media
Night: Members of the
media are invited to a special preview of the 2015 season at Vernon Downs on Tuesday,
April 14th beginning at 6 pm. Members of track management
and horsemen will be available for interviews, and additional information on
the facility and the upcoming season will be highlighted. The media will also
have a chance to see live qualifying races beginning at 6:45 pm that evening. Photography
and videography is welcomed and encouraged.

In addition to live harness racing,
Vernon Downs offers video lottery terminals, video poker and electronic
roulette. A variety of eateries are also part of the entertainment complex.
Jeff Gural owns Vernon Downs in Vernon, NY, and
Tioga Downs in Nichols, NY. Gural is in the process of preparing a new proposal
to apply for the state’s final full gaming license. Once awarded, Tioga Downs will
expand its facility and workforce to accommodate live casino gaming. In the
last decade, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs have created more than 700 family-sustaining
jobs. For more information on Vernon Downs, please visit www.vernondowns.com.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Vernon
Downs Casino and Hotel topped off their facility's new parking garage on Thursday,
December 11, 2014. The "topping off" represents an old Scandinavian tradition where
builders ceremonially place the final beam in the main frame of the structure. There is still remaining work on the parking
garage, but the project is on budget and on schedule to be completed this
April.

The
construction of the $7.2 million parking garage will offer patrons a total of
222 available parking spaces as well as a covered walkway that links the
racetrack to the casino.

Opened
in 2006, Vernon Downs Casino Hotel and Racetrack occupies a 34,000 square foot
gaming facility featuring over 750 video gaming machines, restaurants, lounges
and arcades in addition to live racing and simulcasting. The property also
offers an all-suites hotel, banquet space, roof top terrace and employs
approximately 350 people.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Vernon Downs Casino Hotel and Racetrack is excited to announce that country music sensations Jerrod Niemann and Love and Theft will be appearing live in concert
on Thursday, July 3rd outside and under the stars at Vernon Downs. Tickets for the 8:00pm show are available for $15 at the Vernon Downs Casino Players Club and all Ticketmaster locations.

Jerrod Niemann has produced Billboard chart-toppers “Drink To That All Night” and “Lover, Lover” while Love and Theft is best known for their number 1 hit “Angel Eyes” and “Runaway.”

As a way of giving back to the community, all proceeds from the ticket sales for the concert will be donated to the Food Bank of Central New York. In addition, Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment Jeff Gural stated that he will personally donate $10.00 for every ticket sold for the concert, making the total donated amount $25 per ticket. Mr. Gural will also give 50 cents for every $1 donated to the Food Bank on the day of the show. Mr. Gural and Vernon Downs have a goal of raising a total of $100,000 through their combined efforts.

“Making ends meet continues to be a struggle for people in our community during these difficult times and I think this is the best way for myself and our company to express our thanks to everyone for the support we have received over the years,” Mr. Gural stated. Last year’s “Gretchen Wilson” concert raised nearly $68,000 for the Food Bank, through ticket sales,
Mr. Gural’s $10.00 match and donations.